Cartridge feed mechanism for firearms



Aug. 1, 1939. GEBAUER 2,168,199

CARTRIDGE FEED MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IIIIII /nvent0/":

I @M Jaw W.

Aug. 1, 1939. F. GEBAUER I CARTRIDGE FEED MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 4, l95'7 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fevenc bOA- QY /n vemorn' Aug. 1, 1939. F. GEBAUER CARTRIDGE FEED MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1957 r erenc abon ar /m entan' Au 1, 1939. F. GEBAUER 2,168,199

CARTRIDGE FEED MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .-'4 Vere we. Ge bcuer lnvenzon:

Patented Aug. 1, 1939 CARTRIDGE FEED MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,233 In Hungary April 28, 1937 4 Claims. (0]. 89-33) It is known that, in rapid firing firearms, only a very short time is available for feeding the cartridges from the belt or magazine into the chamber of the barrel. Moreover the cartridges undergo during this feeding movement a number of changes of direction, sudden alterations of speed and concussions which give rise to unforeseen and harmful movements particularly oscillation and resonant phenomena, that very often endanger the reliable operation of the firearm. The oscillation phenomena that occur in known cartridge feed mechanisms result from the cartridges not being sufiiciently firmly gripped during their passage from the magazine to the chamber, so that the cartridges can perform secondary movements in the intermediate members, which movements are harmful even if they be of short duration. The period during which the cartridges are being withdrawn from the belt or magazine is particularly critical, since the cartridge extractor for example moves together with the breech block and undergoes the same accelerations as the breech block. Acceleration is imparted to the breech block at the instant of firing and the cartridge extractor draws the cartridge out of the magazine or belt as the breech opens, that is to say at the time of greatest acceleration. Another critical time is when the cartridge, after it has been moved a suitable distance from the magazine or belt, has to have its direction of movement reversed to enable it to be thrust into the firing chamber.

Attempts have been made to remove this disadvantage, for instance by means of an arrangement in which the cartridge extractor moves together with the breech block and causes the cartridge, after it has been withdrawn from the belt or magazine, moved a suitable distance away from the barrel and the cartridge extractor has been lifted out of engagement with the rim of the cartridge, to impact against a rear wall provided on the pivoted carrier of the cartridge feed mechanism; from this position the cartridge is thrust into the chamber of the barrel by the forwardly moving breech block. With this arrangement, however, troubles have also been experienced due to the constantly increasing and extremely high rates of fire employed at the present time. These troubles are mainly due to the fact that the cartridge is caused to impact against the rear wall of the pivoted carrier and that it is removed from this position by the forwardly moving breech block with considerable impact so as to enable it to be thrust into the chamber.

The present invention has for its object to provide a cartridge feed mechanism which operates reliably even with higher rates of fire than have been employed hitherto and which safely conveys the cartridges without shock or impact from the magazine or cartridge belt to the barrel.

According to the present invention the cartridge extractor is actuated through a lever system by a movable part of the breech block mechanism, for example by the breech block, with a velocity lower than that of the breech block itself, and withdraws the cartridges out of the belt or magazine, conveys them firmly gripped into the opening of the chamber and then transfers them for the completion of the feed movement into the chamber-to the forward conveying action of the forwardly moving breech block.

A constructional embodiment of the cartridge feed mechanism according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the cartridge feed mechanism of a machine gun in longitudinal section in the position which it occupies when the breech is closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal section, but with the breech fully open.

Fig. 3 is another similar longitudinal section, the breech block being, however, in the position it occupies when it takes over the'f uncti on of cartridge feeding from the cartridge extractor. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the belt feeding mechanism, and,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, l represents a cartridge, 2 a part of the machine gun casing, 3 the cartridge belt, 4 the barrel, 5 the chamber of the barrel and 6 the breech block (Fig. 1). I

The breech block 6 is connectedby means of a link 1 to a control lever 8 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin l8. The link 1 is connected to the breech block 6 by a pivot pin M and to the control lever 8 by a pivot pin l9. When the breech block moves first rearwardly and then forwards, the control lever 8, due to its connection as described above, is also rocked first rearwardly and then forwards. A locking spring 25 presses against a pivot pin 2| on the control lever B, and a cartridge extractor l0 and a drag link 22 are connected at one end to pivot pins 9 and 20 respectively.

At the operative end of the cartridge extractor Hi there is provided a claw l l which, when the breech block occupies its front end position, engages the rim of the cartridge I to be withdrawn from the cartridge belt 3. The claw II of the cartridge extractor is pressed against the cartridge in this position by a pressure pawl I5 which is loaded by means of aspring I1 contained in a guide socket I6. The other end of the spring I! presses against the machine gun casing, and the pressure pawl I5 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin I 4 in a pivoted carrier I3, so that it drops or rises with the latter. On each side of the cartridge extractor I0 close to. the claw II is formed a guide stud 28. On rearward movement of the breech block I5, the claw II withdraws a cartridge from the cartridge belt guided by the two studs 28, it draws the cartridge .into pivoted carrier I3 in which are formed guide grooves 29 for the studs 28 (see Fig. 5). The pressure pawl I5 is of such a length that the rearwardly moving cartridge extractor It! remains under the action thereof until the studs 28 reach the guide grooves I 29 (Fig. 5), thus ensuring that the claw I I of the cartridge extractor does not become disengaged fromthe cartridge. The guide grooves 29 are located at such adistance from the-guide chamber 3I, which is adapted to receive the cartridge, that the cartridge is heldsecurel-yby the claw M (Fig. 1). The function of cartridge feeding is later taken over from the claw -I I by a nose :30 on the cartridge extractor Ill. The claw I I continues to draw the cartridge .along with vit'as .long as the breech block is moving rearwardly. Meanwhile the cartridge extractor is freed from the action of the .pressurepawl I5 and the latter then presses directly on the cartridge 1 (Fig.2).

The pivoted carrier I3 rocks in the machine gun about a .pivot .pin :I2. When the breech block 6 moves rearwardly and the cartridge extractor ID has withdrawn the cartridge I from the belt 3, thepivoted carrier rocks vunder :the action of theispring I! already referred .to into its lowermost position, which .is limited'by an abutment 31 on which the pivoted carrier I 3 rests bymeans of its abutment surface 38. The pivoted carrier I3 however is pressed down into its lowermost position .not only by the spring I'Lbutalso by a cam surface 43 on a slider 23. The slider'23 is actuated by :the control lever 8 through -a-link 22 which is connected to the slider by apivot pin -42'. The slider 23 performs a rectilinear .forward and rearward movement in guides 24 formed in the casing-of the machine gun, which movement is howeveres'horter than that of the breech block. As the cartridge I leaves the feed block, the cam surface 43 comes into contact with a surface 39 on thepivoted carrier I3 and, as it slides-over this surface, first presses the pivoted carrier I3 down about its pivot pin 12 and then, after it has reached its lowermost position-holds it=d0Wn-in this position by means-of asurface 40; Owing to this constructional arrangement, firstly the spring II canbe made relativelyweahso that the pivoted carrier is not liable to become-distorted by the pressure :of' the spring "when extracting a cartridge and secondlythe pivoted-carrier is secured in its lowermost position against harmful movements-and rebound shocks.

The cartridge that has been drawn into the guide chamber-3I :in-the pivoted carrier -I3is not released .by the cartridge extractor -I 0, but is supported .by thenose 30 .and gradually braked, just as the .rearwardly moving parts of the locking spring 25 are gradually braked .and brought to rest. Thebreech block 6 and the parts connected thereto are likewise returned from their rear- P'P y the locking Sp g 25, the latter serving gradually to-accelerate the breech block tridge I and is loaded by the spring I1, ejects the cartridge from the guide chamber 3|. Thus the cartridge I is freed from the action of the nose 30 of the cartridge extractor and the breech block 6 advancing rapidly from behind the cartridge I "thrusts the latter entirely into the chamber 5 of the barrel 4.

As soon as the cartridge I is removed from the pivoted carrier .I.3, the latter moves rapidly into" its uppermost position. This movement is brought about as the breech block moves forward by a slide 23 which is moved by means of the link 22. To this end a tappet 26 on the slide 23 moves beneath a cam surface 21 on the pivoted carrier -I.3 and, as it moves forward. raises thelatter. While-the breech block moves forward the belt has to be advancedby-one cartridge. The .slide .23 moves forwards and rearwards along guides .24 (Fig. .4) under the .action of the controllever 8. Connected to a pin 32 on the slide 23 is a link 33 which with the aid of a bell .cranklever 34 reciprocatesthe feed slide 36'alongguides .35. During eachmovement of the slide 23in the direction B, the belt .is drawn forward by one cartridge by means of the feedslide 36. As soon as the advance of the belt finishes, the rockable member I3 and thecartridge extractor I0 .move into the uppermostposition the claw I I snaps over .therim of the-cartridge and the-extraction of the cartridge can-beginagain (Fig. 1) V Theaccelerations ofthe cartridge .I, theslide 23 and the locking spring .25 are smaller than that of-the breech block 6, since the radial distances betwen -the pivot I8-.of the control lever 8 andthe points of connection 9,20, 2| of the .members which move the cartridge I, slide 23 and locking sprin .25 aresmaller than the distance between from the pivot 18, and the pivotal connection l9 of-t-he link 'ltwhich is connected to the breech block These accelerations moreover differ at the cartridgeandat the slider owing to the fact that the pointsof connection 9 and Mid the members which movethe corresponding parts do not lie in-the straight line-I8, .I.9, butmake an angle therewith. The \sizeof this angle and its position relative to the straight lines I8, I9.may.difier as required-from those shownin the drawings.

The control lever.8.and-the.link 1 form with the pivot pins 44, I9, 9 and with the pivot I8 the retarding lever system by means of which the breech-blockfi actuatesthe cartridgeextractor I I), to which lever system may be added the link 22 and-pivot pins-20, 42-bymeans of whichthebreech block 6- actuates the feed slide 23. .The locking spring 25 andthepivot pin '2 I which connects the spring to the control lever -8-may also be regarded as forming part'of the same lever system.

The straight lines, which on theone hand connectthe point of connection of the breech block to thecontrol lever 8 and on the other hand the point of connection of the lever with the pivot I8, enclose an angle between them.

The constructional embodiments described above-maybe considerably modified as far as constructional :and operating details are concerned, without'changing theinventioniitself. In general all the parts may be replaced by equivalent parts'.

The breech block may consist of a plurality of parts; the movement of the belt may be obtained in any other manner; and the cartridges may be fed from a cartridge magazine instead of from a cartridge belt.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a'rapid fire machine gun, the combination of a cartridge extractor moved by a part of the breech block mechanism and having a cartridgeengaging end provided with an extracting claw and a pushing nose, a lever system connecting said part of the breech block mechanism to said cartridge extractor mechanism and comprising a pivoted control lever, and two pivot pins connecting said control lever one to the breech block mechanism and the second to the cartridge extractor mechanism, the angle between the line connecting the first pivot pin to the pivot of said control lever and the line of movement of the breech block when the breech block is in closed position being smaller than the angle between the line connecting the second pivot pin and the pivot of said control lever and said line of movement.

2. In a rapid fire machine gun, the combination of a cartridge extractor moved by a part of the breech block mechanism and having a cartridgeengaging end provided with an extracting claw and a pushing nose, a lever system connecting said part of the breech block mechanism to said cartridge extractor mechanism and comprising a pivoted control lever, two pivot pins connecting said control lever one to the breech block mechanism and the other to the cartridge extractor mechanism, the angle between the line connecting the first pivot pin to the pivot of said control lever and the line of movement of the breech block when the breech block is in closed position being smaller than the angle between the line connecting the second pivot pin and the pivot of said control lever and said line of movement, and a slider connected by pivot pins and by a link to said lever system to bring about the feed movement of the cartridge belt.

3. In a rapid fire machine gun, the combination of a cartridge extractor moved by a part of the breech block mechanism and having a cartridgeengaging end provided with an extracting claw and a pushing nose, a lever system connecting said part of the breech block mechanism to said cartridge extractor mechanism and comprising a pivoted control lever, two pivot pins connecting said control lever one to the breech block mechanism and the other to the cartridge extractor mechanism, the angle between the line connecting the first pivot pin to the pivot of said control lever and the line of movement of the breech block when the breech block is in closed position being smaller than the angle between the line connecting the second pivot pin and the pivot of said control lever and said line of movement, a slider connected by pivot pins and by a link to said lever system to bring about the feed movement of the cartridge belt, a pivotally mounted cartridge carrier, a tappet 011 said slider, a control surface on said pivoted carrier, said control surface being adapted to be engaged by said tappet as soon as the cartridge has been extracted from the magazine or belt, said tappet sliding along said control surface and depressing the pivoted carrier about its pivot, a second control surface on the pivoted carrier, this control surface being adapted to be engaged by said tappet to hold the pivoted carrier in the depressed position, a second tappet on the slider, and a third control surface on the pivoted carrier, this control surface being adapted to be engaged from below by said second tappet on the slide as soon as the cartridge has been pushed out of the pivoted carrier, said second tappet thereby raising the pivoted carrier.

4. In a rapid-fire machine gun, the combination with a breech-block mechanism of a cartridge extractor, a decelerating lever pivoted on a fixed fulcrum and pivotally connected with said breechblock mechanism and said cartridge extractor, the distance between the fulcrum of said lever and the point thereof to which the breech-block is connected exceeding that between said fulcrum and the point to which said cartridge extractor is connected, and a pivoted carrier to guide the cartridge extracted by said extractor from the magazine or belt into the opening of the barrel chamber, thereby enabling the breech-block to push the cartridge into said chamber.

FERENC GEBAUER. 

